Kawasaki resisted with all her might, dead set against letting Hikigaya carry the bag. Left with no other choice, Hikigaya scooped up the girl in his arms and dashed toward the girls' restroom.
It was still early, and barely any students had arrived at school. Even sprinting through the hallway, they weren't spotted by a single person.
"I-I really can't hold on any longer, Hikigaya," Kawasaki murmured through clenched teeth, hiding her face in his chest.
"Sigh… then next time, don't do this again," Hikigaya said with a tired breath.
"N-Next time?! Hikigaya, d-don't tell me you… you plan to do that again in the future?" Kawasaki's face flushed a deep red as she stammered.
"No, that's not what I meant. I'm saying, don't make the same mistake again—this was reckless," Hikigaya replied, exasperated by this airheaded girl.
"Ugh… It's not reckless, okay? I just… I just wanted to check things quickly," she pouted, mumbling under her breath.
"Then wouldn't it have been better if I'd just brought it to your house yesterday? I don't live that far from you."
"No way! What if my mom or dad saw it? Or my little sister? I'd be doomed!" Kawasaki shot back instantly.
"…Right."
Yep. Typical Kawasaki.
In a flash, Hikigaya arrived at the door to the girls' restroom, pausing with uncertainty.
"Hurry, take me inside," Kawasaki urged, anxious.
"I don't know if there's anyone in there. Why don't you go in yourself?"
Though Hikigaya had barged into the girls' bathroom more than once, he still preferred to avoid it if possible. Getting caught would be an instant ticket to fame—the bad kind—at Sōbu High.
"It's super early—who'd be inside? C-C'mon, let's go in… together," Kawasaki said, tightly hugging him and burying her red face in his shoulder.
"But Kawasaki…"
Hikigaya hesitated, but the moment he glanced at her trembling legs, he understood. With a reluctant nod, he said, "Got it. I'll carry you in. Just hang in there."
"…Okay."
Carefully, Hikigaya stepped inside with Kawasaki in his arms. Confirming the coast was clear, he sighed in relief and picked the innermost stall, then gently set her down inside.
"I'll wait outside, then."
He turned to leave and let Kawasaki handle it on her own.
"Wait!"
She immediately grabbed his arm, blushing furiously.
"Um… about the test…"
"I gave you the test strip already. You can do it yourself," Hikigaya replied plainly.
"I-I…"
Still clutching his arm, her head lowered in embarrassment, her voice trailing off.
"What is it?" Hikigaya asked, noticing her hesitation.
"I'm just a little nervous. Hikigaya… c-could you stay with me? Just until I'm done?"
"…Eh?"
He turned around, and seeing her slender figure slightly trembling, Hikigaya softened.
After all, this was a first-time experience for her. Kawasaki was a sensitive girl. Leaving her alone in a moment like this—even if everything turned out fine—felt wrong. And if the result was bad… she might break down entirely.
"Okay. I'll wait right here. Once you're done, we'll leave together," Hikigaya said seriously.
"Hikigaya…" Kawasaki looked up at him, emotion flickering in her eyes.
"Ahem. Let's get started already."
Feeling uneasy under her gaze, Hikigaya quickly tried to move things along.
"O-Okay."
Kawasaki snapped back to attention, nodded, and carefully lowered the toilet seat. As her hand reached toward her skirt, she paused, blushing again, and glanced at him.
"I won't look."
Hikigaya turned his back.
Kawasaki's heart warmed at the gesture. A boy who showed this kind of quiet care… no wonder girls fell for him.
But—
Just as Kawasaki was about to sit down, Hikigaya said flatly, "You might want to pace yourself—don't go all at once."
"Huh?!"
"It's a test, remember? Don't forget."
"O-Oh…"
Kawasaki blinked, then stammered, "B-But I really have to go! I'm worried…"
"You're not a little kid. You can control it. Just focus. I'll be right here. Don't be afraid."
"O-Okay…"
With no choice, Kawasaki started… the process.
Hikigaya stayed turned around the whole time, as steady as a mountain.
"A-And then what?"
"Use this." Hikigaya pulled out a plastic cup from his pocket. "I grabbed it from behind the classroom—leftovers from yesterday's chemistry class."
"Huh?"
Kawasaki took the cup, dazed.
"It's tiny!"
"Well, it would've been a problem at the start. But now? You can manage. Just be careful," Hikigaya advised.
"I-I'll try…"
She glanced at the cup—barely five centimeters wide—and winced.
"Uh-oh!"
"What's wrong?" Hikigaya asked quickly, concerned by her sudden panic.
"It's not that I got it on my hand… I—my hands won't stop shaking. I-I can't hold this thing steady at all!"
"Wait, what?!"
Kawasaki's embarrassed outburst left Hikigaya momentarily speechless.
The air in the restroom turned oddly… tense.
"I-I can't do it like this," she said anxiously. "It'll just… it'll spill…"
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya responded with calm determination, "Don't panic. If that's the case… I'll help you."
"W-What?! Help me?! W-Wait, that means you'd… N-No way!"
"We don't have time to waste," Hikigaya said firmly. "If we keep stalling, more and more students will start showing up."
"But it's so gross…"
"Not to me," Hikigaya said flatly. "This is you we're talking about. I don't mind. Honestly, I don't think it's gross at all."
"…?!"
"So? Is that okay?" Hikigaya asked again.
"…Fine." Like a bashful bride, Kawasaki whispered, "Hold the cup for me."